The 2026 Formula 1 grid is yet to be completed, with eight seats still left to fill.

Mercedes and Red Bull still have to decide their driver line-ups, with the F1 driver market yet to spark into life.

Alpine’s second seat and the identity of both Cadillac drivers aren’t known yet, but the 2027 grid could see far more changes taking place.

Many teams signed up their drivers on multi-year deals that only cover the first season of F1’s new regulations being introduced next season.

It means if teams underperform or overdeliver, both parties might suddenly decide to explore their options, which could lead to some very interesting results.

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McLaren – Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has insisted for a while that his team have the strongest line-up on the grid.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have both signed contract extensions since the beginning of last season that cover them for at least the next few years.

The only reason one of their drivers might leave is if the intra-team rivalry becomes too messy, although there are currently no signs of that in their drivers’ championship battle this year.

Ferrari – Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman

Lewis Hamilton is a glaring omission from Ferrari’s potential 2027 line-up, but everything hinges on next year.

Hamilton controls the one-year contract extension in his deal, but if he feels he can’t beat Charles Leclerc, then continuing in the sport is unlikely to be in his best interests.

Oliver Bearman is the next driver in line to race for Ferrari and would earn a call-up after two seasons at Haas.

Mercedes – George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes look set to agree a new deal with George Russell soon, although nothing is expected during the summer break.

George Russell should be joined by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, even if his rookie campaign hasn’t gone exactly as planned.

Mercedes could be the class of the field in 2026 and beyond, and if that’s the case, then they may not need to move for Max Verstappen, leaving him free to join another team on the grid…

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Red Bull – Isack Hadjar and Carlos Sainz

Verstappen can leave Red Bull if he’s outside the top two in the championship next season, and unless the team suddenly get their act together, that clause will be active in 2027.

If the Dutchman goes, then Red Bull will need a new lead driver, and Carlos Sainz fits the bill in that regard.

Isack Hadjar is Red Bull’s favoured Yuki Tsunoda replacement, and unless his form dramatically improves before the end of the current campaign, that switch may have already taken place.

Williams – Alex Albon and Luke Browning

If Sainz joins Red Bull, then Alex Albon is likely to be locked down into an even tougher contract to break to keep Williams’ positive trajectory going.

Although Franco Colapinto is technically still only at Alpine on loan from Williams, team principal James Vowles has previously been impressed with Luke Browning.

Luke Browning is one of the most impressive drivers in Formula 2 this season and could be ready for F1 by 2027.

Aston Martin – Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll

If Verstappen becomes available from Red Bull, it’s hard to believe any team on the grid will be able to match the terms Aston Martin can give him.

A reunion with Adrian Newey and Honda gives the Dutchman plenty of reasons to make the switch, and by 2027, they should be competing for the championship.

On the other side of the garage, it’s hard to see Lance Stroll moving on if he thinks he has a chance of ending his wait for his first F1 victory.

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Audi – Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto

Sauber will become Audi at the beginning of the 2026 season, but it’s impossible to know where in the pecking order they’re going to slot into with a brand new power unit to match their new identity.

Nico Hulkenberg will be approaching the end of his time in Formula 1 and more than ready to hand the mantle over to Gabriel Bortoleto, who should be an established star on the grid at this stage of his career.

Audi will be on the search for a homegrown German driver to replace Hulkenberg, but no one coming through the ranks stands out at this stage.

Racing Bulls – Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad

Just like the pipeline of German drivers hasn’t discovered the next Hulkenberg, Red Bull are running out of top-level juniors to place at Racing Bulls.

Retaining Liam Lawson until that young star emerges makes sense, in the same way Yuki Tsunoda spent four seasons with the team.

It’s a matter of when, not if, Arvid Lindblad will be a Formula 1 driver, and if he’s not promoted for the 2026 season, he’ll certainly be in place by the following year.

Haas – Esteban Ocon and Rafael Camara

Ferrari junior Rafael Camara broke records with his Formula 3 campaign this season, wrapping up the title before the final round of races.

If Bearman earns a Ferrari promotion, then the team could look to place Rafael Camara alongside Esteban Ocon.

The unknown factor is the growing influence Toyota has at Haas, and whether they could look to place one of their drivers in any vacant seat that arises.

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Alpine – Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda

If Tsunoda does lose his seat at Red Bull, then a reunion with close friend Pierre Gasly at Alpine can’t be considered out of the question.

None of the young drivers in the Alpine academy have made a strong case to secure their long-term future in the team.

If Alpine can overlook Tsunoda’s tough run in a Red Bull car that has proven to be impossible to drive for anyone who isn’t Verstappen, then they could secure a very talented driver.

Cadillac – Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez

Cadillac are the hardest team on the grid to try and predict a driver line-up for, considering they’ve yet to sign anyone for the 2026 campaign.

Whoever they do bring in will want assurance that they’re going to be a long-term part of the project, which is why Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez currently look like the safest bet.

Bottas and Perez are Cadillac’s likeliest driver line-up and provide F1’s newest team with plenty of much-needed experience.